Laterally movable door mechanism



y 1951 J. E. GUTRIDGE 2,992,462

LATE-RALLY MOVABLE DOOR MECHANISM Filed Dec. 16, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Jack utriqlye July 18, 1961 J. E. GUTRIDGE LATERALLY MOVABLE DOOR MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1957 A a z Inventor ui'ricfye ittorngy July 18, 1961 J. E. GUTRIDGE LATERALLY MOVABLE DOOR MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 16, 1957 Inventor fttornqy Jatk W R I- II b o mm gm 1% m 5 mm 3 a m m 22$ Nb mum w. .v. S. I D m N... 2 K m 3 ,JHW M WUN+:Y:-:.......: a S--- 3 mm July 18, 1961 J. E. GUTRIDGE LATERALLY MOVABLE DOOR MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 16, 1957 mm F\\\\\ United States 2,992,462 LATERALLY MOVABLE DOOR MECHANISM Jack E. Gutridge, Dyer, Ind., assignor to Pullman Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 16, 1957, 'Ser. No. 702,841 8 Claims. (Cl. 20-23) This invention relates to a flush type door for vehicles and has for its primary purpose the provision of mechanism for moving a door of this type laterally out of the door opening and then sliding it in a direction paralleling the side wall of the vehicle to a position uncovering the opening.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of improved actuating mechanism for a laterally movable flush type side door on a freight vehicle.

An important object of the invention is to provide actuating mechanism for a laterally movable door wherein the door is mounted for movement on rollers and the roller housings are actuated directly by operating shafts without inter-position of pivot trunnions between the rollers and shafts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of mechanism for effecting lateral movement of a rollersupported door outwardly of the door opening and then longitudinally along a supporting track utilizing vertical operating shafts with the roller housings rigidly mounted on such shafts whereby the pivoting action of the operating shafts for moving the door laterally occurs on the rollers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a laterally movable door actuating mechanism having supporting roller housings rigidly mounted on operating shafts effecting lateral movement of the door by pivotal action on the rollers wherein a supporting track is provided below the door and a guiding track above the door with vertical projections straddling the tracks to function relative to the tracks in both the in and out positions of the door.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of laterally movable door actuating mechanism having vertical operating shafts located between the inner and outer plane of the door and mechanism for eflecting simultaneous operation of the shafts located below the door.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained by the mechanism and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a general side elevational view of a laterally movable side door applied in the side Wall opening of a vehicle and incorporating the mechanism of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing the side door in the closed position within the recessed opening in the side wall of the vehicle.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1 showing the door in the closed position within the recessed opening in the side wall with the rollers and associated housings shown at right angles to the track.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the door in the outer position with the supporting rollers disposed parallel to the track for travel longitudinally.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view adjacent the bottom of the door taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1 showing the operating mechanism for actuating the vertical shafts controlling the movement of the door into and out of the recessed door opening.

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1 showing the vertical projections at the upper end of the vertical shafts disposed at opposite sides of the upper track; and

FIGURE 7 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken ZildZkidZ ice on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 1 showing one of the latching devices for the operating handle of the actuating mechanism.

This invention provides a flush type sliding door for vehicles that are subject to clearance conditions and affords a laterally movable door which is adapted to be disposed within a recessed opening flush with the side wall of the vehicle when closed and outwardly of the opening beyond the side wall for travelling parallel to the wall to uncover the opening and which in such outer position is entirely within prescribed clearance limits. The door is supported for longitudinal travel and lateral movement on rollers which not only provide the rolling movement for travel in either direction as the door moves parallel to the side wall and transversely as it moves into and out of the door opening but constitute the sole pivtal means for turning from the position for longitudinal travel to the position for transverse movement with the pivoting action occurring directly on the rollers so that the need for any supplemental pivot trunnions is eliminated. The rollers are pivoted from the one position to the other by vertical operating shafts which are disposed within the inner and outer planes of the door and these shafts are actuated by mechanism located beneath the door so that in the outer travel position of the door sub stantially the entire mechanism for supporting and operating the door is disposed within the outermost limits of the door.

In the drawings 10 represents a railway freight vehicle having a side wall 11, including a side sill 12 and a side plate 13 and having a roof 14 and an underframe 15. The side wall as shown is insulated and includes outer sheathing 17, insulation 18 and inside lining 19. The side wall is provided with a door opening 16 which is recessed within the wall so that a door may be received within the opening and disposed substantially flush with the outer surface of the wall. The door opening is formed by Z-section posts 26 and 21 at opposite sides of the opening and a similar Z-section header member 22 at the top of the opening. The header member has its outer upstanding flange 23 secured to the side plate 13 and its inner depending flange 24 is disposed flush with the inner flanges 25 and 26 of the door posts 20 and 21 respectively. The header member and door posts are welded at the upper corners of the door opening to provide a continuous frame for the opening and the inner flanges 24, 25 and 26 provide a continuous abutment at the top and sides of the opening for the door. At the bottom a member 27 extends continuously across the door opening between the door posts 20 and 21 flush with the flanges 25 and 26 to complete the abutment for the door entirely around the door opening. The member 27 is welded to the flanges 25 and 26 and to the side sill 12 to provide a fully closed rectangular frame about the door opening forming an integrated part of the side wall framing of the vehicle an inwardly directed upper flange 28 on the bottom member 27 overlies the floor 29 and affords a threshold at the door opening. The abutment surfaces of the members 20, 21, 22 and 27 are disposed inwardly of the outer surface of the side wall thus to provide a recess for the reception of the door so that in its closed position the door may be disposed flush with the outer wall surface.

The door 30 is of insulated construction in the form illustrated and includes open section framing members 31, 32, 33 and 34 forming the side, top and bottom edges of the door with outside sheathing 35 secured to the members by welding and inside lining 36 secured thereto by screws 37 with insulation 38 filling all of the area of the interior space. .An intermediate vertical framing member 39 extends between the top and bottom members 33 and 34 to provide a stilfening member at the 3 center of the door. The side edge framing members 31 and 32 are of similar construction and the top and bottom framing members 33 and 34 are of similar construction'. The top and bottom members are of channel section opening upwardly and downwardly respectively with the inside flanges of the channels of less height than the outside flanges. The side edge members are of modichannel section with the inside flanges also of less width than the outside flanges and each having an inwardly directed flange at the outer edge of the outside flange. The four edge framing members are fitted at the four corners of the door and secured together by welding to provide a rigid structure. Weather stripping 40 extends entirely about the inner perimeter of the door and is secured to the inside flanges of the various edge framing members 31, 32, 33 and 34. The weather stripping projects beyond the inside flanges in position to abut against the flanges 24, 25 and 26 of the members 20, 21 and 22 and against the face of the member 27 and thereby provide a tight weather-proof seal entirely around the door in its closed position.

A supporting track 45 is provided for the door and is mounted on the vehicle side by means of brackets 46 secured to the sub-side sill 47 which space the track outwardly from the side wall. The track in continuous extending full length of the movement of the door as it travels to the full open position. An abutment 48 provides a front stop for the door which affords a limit to the maximum travel of the door in that direction and a similar stop (not shown) at the opposite end of the track acts to limit the maximum travel of the door to the full open posiion. A guide plate 44 is mounted on the side sill structure 12 in opposed relation to the track 45 adjacent each side of the door opening for cooperation with the door-operating mechanism in a manner more fully hereinafter to be described. A guide track 50 which is of W-section is secured to the side plate 13 over the door opening and is coextensive with the supporting track 45. Rigidifying brackets 49 reinforce the track against the lateral forces imposed thereon by the operating mecha nism in moving the door into and out of the recessed door opening. A guide plate 51 is mounted on the depending flange of the side plate 13 in opposed relation to the guiding surface on the track 50 adjacent each side of the door opening for cooperation with the dooroperating mechanism also more fully hereinafter to be explained.

. The door-operating mechanism includes a pair of vertical operating shafts 55 extending full height of the door and disposed respectively adjacent each side of the door. It will be noted that these door shafts are disposed between the inner and outer planes of the door 30 and are rotatably mounted adjacent the top and bottom of each shaft in bearings 56 and 57 which are secured respectively to the top and bottom framing members 33 and 34 within the open channel sections as best shown in FIG- URE 2. At the top of each shaft an operating arm 58 is disposed horizontally and is integrated with the shaft by welding and in the closed position of the door projects outwardly and extends under the guide track 50. At the outer end of each operating arm a door guide member 59 is provided which is rigidly secured to the arm and has a pair of upstanding guide luge 60 disposed respectively at the inner and outer sides of the track 50 as best shown in FIGURE 6. It will be noted that the guide lugs 64) are disposed diagonally opposite on the member 59 at respective sides of the track 50 so that in the position shown in FIGURE 6 with the mechanism in the position assumed when the door 30 is closed the lugs are disposed closely adjacent to the respectively opposite sides of the guide track. One upstanding lug 60 is disposed at the outer side of the track and the diagonally opposite lug is disposed between the inner side of the track and the guide plate 51. Thus disposed when the respective door shaft 55 is rotated to open the door the inner lug aosaeea v 60 will bear against the guide plate 51 to fulcrum the door out of the recessed door opening and when the door is being fulcrumed into the opening the lug will bear against the inner side of the guide track 50 upon rotation of the shaft counterclockwise whereby to force the door into the recessed opening 16. The rigidifying brackets 49 reinforce the track 56 at the locations where the guide lugs 60 engage the inner side of the track to fulcrum the door into closed position. By the disposition of the upstanding lugs 60 diagonally of the member 59 the lugs 60 also are disposed closely adjacent to the inner and outer sides of the track 50 when the door 30 is in the outer position for travel parallel to the car side at which time the lugs 60 act to guide the upper end of the door throughout the full range of movement thereof from one extreme position to the other.

The door 30 is carried on supporting rollers 61 which are adapted to operate on the track in moving the door between the full open position at one side of the door opening 16 and the position where the door is disposed in front of the opening and then swiveled directly on the track as the door is moved laterally into the recessed door opening. The supporting track 45 and the overhead guide track are vertically aligned so that the guide members 59 and the supporting rollers operate in the same relative positions with respect to the car side. The rollers 61 are operatively mounted in roller housings 62 which as best shown in FIGURE 2 have an offset portion 63 providing an arm for connection with the respective operating shaft 55. The offset portion 63 in effect provides an arm comparable to the operating arm 58 at the upper end of the operating shaft so that the upper and lower ends of the door are thereby moved inwardly and outwardly together and exactly the same amount. The shaft passes through the arm portion 63 and is secured thereto by welding. The arm 63 is provided with a bearing 64 in engagement with the underside of the respective bearing 57 on the door to provide support for the door directly from the roller housings. The roller housings 62 are each provided with depending lugs 65 disposed diagonally and located upon opposite sides of the supporting track 45 in vertical alignment with the respective lugs at the upper end of the door. By this arrangement the upper and lower ends of the door are caused to move simultaneously. At each roller housing the inner lug is disposed between the inner side of the track 45 and the guide plate 44 and the outer lug is disposed at the outer side of the supporting track. When the operating shaft 55 is actuated in a direction to open the door the inner lug 65 will act as a fulcrum against the guide plate 44 to force the door 30 outwardly of the recessed door opening 16 and when the door is being moved into the opening 16 the inner lug 65 will contact the inner side of track 45 when the shaft 55 is rotated in the opposite direction whereupon the reaction will be against the supporting track to force the door into the recess of the door opening. Like the upstanding lugs 60 the depending lugs 65 are disposed closely adjacent to the respective opposite sides of the supporting track with one lug disposed at the outer side of the track and the diagonally opposite lug disposed at the inner side and the lugs assume such closely adjacent relationship both in the inner or closed position of the door and in the outer or travel position of the door in which latter position the lugs serve to guide the lower end of the door throughout the full range of its movement in a direction parallel to the car side.

The spaced vertical operating shafts 55 on the door are operatively connected for simultaneous operation and are adapted to be actuated by a single operating handle. As best indicated in FIGURE 3 the roller housing 62 are each provided with a lateral projection 66 which in the closed position of the door extend toward each other. Oppositely extending operating tie rods 67 are pivotally connected respectively to the projections 66 and extend toward the center of the door where they are operatively connected to a rotor 68. The tie rods 67 are each provided with a threaded adjustment 69 whereby the length of the rods may be regulated in accordance with the exact relative positions of the roller housing required with respect to the do or. The rotor 68 is mounted on an operating shaft 70 and integrated by welding 71 and is provided with oppositely extending bifurcated arms 72 for operative connection with the respective tie rods 67. The operating shaft 70 is rotatably mounted in a bracket 73 secured in the open section bottom door channel member 34 by welding. An operating handle 75 is secured to the operating shaft by means of a pin 74 and provides a means of rotating the shaft to actuate the oppositely extending arms 72 on the rotor about the axis of the shaft and thereby move the tie rods lengthwise simultaneously to shift the positions of the roller housings 62 and therebyrotate the vertical shafts 55 to shift the arms 58 exactly as the roller housings are shifted. It will be noted that the tie rods 67 at their inner ends where they connect to the rotor 68 are flat and offset as at 76 whereby to pass over and under the rotor respectively for attachment thereto at their respectively opposite side thereof from their connection to the respective roller housing. Thus when the operating handle 75 is actuated to rotate the rotor 68 in a clockwise direction the arms 72 which are normally disposed horizontally force the tie rods 67 in opposite directions from the center of the door so that the roller housings 62 are pivoted outwardly in opposite directions as are the arms 58 and guide members 59 at the top of the door.

The operating handle 75 is pivotally mounted on the rotor shaft 70 by means of the pin 74 for swinging movement outwardly of the door and is adapted to be locked in either position of the mechanism with the door closed or in the outer travel position. As best shown in FIG- URES 1 and 7 similar lock brackets 77 are secured by welding on the door bottom edge member 34 and each bracket has a depending portion 78 adapted to be disposed behind the handle 75 when the handle is disposed in the respectively associated position relative to either bracket. A vertically sliding lock member 7 9 is mounted in each bracket for reciprocation between a lower position overlying the face of the operating handle and an upper retractive position. When the lock member is in the lower position the operating handle is confined between the lock 79 and the depending portion 78 of the brackets and only when the lock member is released may the handle 75 be operated. The portion 78 is offset as at 80 to provide a shoulder overlying the top edge of the operating handle whereby to prevent upward movement of the handle while in the locked position. In the position of the operating handle locking the mechanism in the closed position of the door means are provided for attaching a car seal and/or a padlock to prevent operation of the mechanism and unauthorized opening of the door. The lock bracket 77 located to the left of the center of the door as viewed in FIGURE 1 is provided with a seal opening 31 and a lock opening 82 located in the depending portion 78 and the operating handle is provided with similar openings in alignment therewith so that a car seal or a padlock may be inserted therethrough to lock the handle against unauthorized manipulation.

It is to be noted that all of the operating mechanism for actuating the spaced vertical shafts 55 and the associated roller housings 62 and the upper guide members 59 is disposed substantially in its entirety under the door 30 in the space below the door defined by the bottom edge member 34 of the door and the side sill 12 and the bottom member 27 of the door opening so that all of the mechanism recessed beneath the door except the operating handle 75 and as best shown in FIGURE 3 this handle is disposed partially under the door when in locked position. By this arrangement with the vertical shafts 55 disposed between the inner and outer planes of the door and the actuating mechanism therefore disposed under the bottom edge of the door .it will be seen that the door and all of its operating appurtenance are disposed fully within the prescribed clearance regulations as represented by the line 83 (see FIG. 4). Both when the door is closed and when it is disposed in the outer position and in the latter position no part on the door encroaches upon the limits represented by the clearance line 83 so that a vehicle equipped with this door arrangement might operate in interchange with the doors disposed in either open or closed positions without violating the rules pertaining to clearance limitations.

In the operation of the door to remove it from the recessed door opening 16 and move it along the track 45 to a position beyond the door opening the pivotal movement necessary as the vertical shafts 55 are rotated to move the door laterally is had directly on the surface of the rollers 61 as the roller housings 62 are turned from the position substantially at right angles to the supporting track 45 in the closed position of the door to a position paralleling the length of the track after which the rollers are free to roll along the track in moving the door beyond the opening 16. This operation is had by releasing the lock 79 securing the operating handle 75 in the door closed position and moving the handle clockwise to its opposite position at the other side of the center of the door where it may be secured by the other lock 79 to maintain the mechanism in the door outer position for travel along the track 45 with the upper edge of the door being guided along the track 50 by the guide member 59. In returning the door to the closed position the described operation of the mechanism is reversed. The operation of turning the roller housings 62 at the bottom of the door and the guide members 59 at the top of the door is had simultaneously through the operating shafts 55 which also effect the simultaneous fulcruming of the door into closed position or outwardly of the door opening by means of the lugs 60 and 65 in engagement with the respective tracks 50 and '45 or the plates 51 and 44.

Thus it will be seen that there has been provided a laterally movable flush type side door having upper and lower supporting and guide devices extending outwardly of the door for association with operating tracks and having spaced operating shafts for the devices extending vertically between the inner and outer planes of the door with actuating mechanism disposed under the door adapted to operate the shafts and devices simultaneously and wherein supporting rollers carried by' the shafts act as pivots for the lateral movements of the door as well as rolling movements thereof and wherein all parts of the door and mechanism are disposed within prescribed cleanance limitations at all times.

What is claimed is:

1. In a laterally movable sliding door for operation in upper and lower guiding and supporting tracks to move laterally out of a door opening and slide to a position uncovering the opening, said door having edge framing members including vertical members adjacent the respectively opposite side edges of the door and a bottom edge framing member adjacent the bottom of the door, an actuating mechanism for the door comprising a pair of vertical operating shafts extending substantially the full height of the door and mounted respectively on said side edge framing members, a horizontally extending arm secured to the upper end of each shaft having spaced upstanding guide lugs at respectively opposite sides of the upper track, a supporting roller housing rigidly mounted on the lower end of each shaft having spaced depending guide lugs at respectively opposite sides of the lower track and containing a roller supported on said lower track, and an operating mechanism openatively connecting said vertical shafts for simultaneous operation to move said door out of the door opening comprising a rotor mounted on said bottom edge framing member,

7 V links connecting said rotor with the respective shafts to rotate said shafts upon actuation of said rotor, and an operating handle operatively connected with said rotor accessible from a location outwardly of one face of said door.

2. In a laterally movable sliding door for operation in upper and lower guiding and supporting tracks to move laterally out of a door opening and slide to a position uncovering the opening, said door having an inside lining and an outer sheathing spaced apart by edge framing members including vertical members adjacent the respectively opposite side edges of the door and horizontal members adjacent the top and bottom edges of the door, said members comprising hollow sections open toward the respective edges of the door, an actuating mechanism for the door comprising a pair of vertical operating shafts extending substantially the full height of the door and mounted respectively within the hollow sections of said vertical side edge framing members, a horizontally extending arm secured to the upper end of each shaft having spaced upstanding guide lugs at respectively opposite sides of the upper track, a supporting roller housing rigidly mounted on the lower end of each shaft having spaced depending guide lugs at respectively opposite sides of the lower track and containing a roller supported on said lower track, and an operating mechanism operatively connecting said vertical shafts for simultaneous operation to move said door out of the door opening comprising a rotor mounted from said bottom edge framing member, links connecting said rotor with the respective vertical shafts to rotate said shafts upon actuation of said rotor, and an operating handle operatively connected with said rotor and accessible from a location outwardly of one face of said door, said links and rotor being disposed substantially under the bottom edge of the door.

3. In a laterally movable sliding door for operation in upper and lower guiding and supporting tracks to move laterally out of a door opening and slide to a position uncovering the opening, said door having edge framing members including vertical members adjacent the respectively opposite side edges of the door and a bottom edge framing member adjacent the bottom edge of the door, said mem bers comprising hollow sections open toward the respective edges of the door, an actuating mechanism for the door comprising a pair of vertical operating shafts extending substantially the full height of the door and mounted respectively within the hollow sections of said vertical side edge framing members, a horizontally extending arm secured to the upper end of each shaft and having operative engagement with said upper track, a supporting roller housing rigidly mounted on the lower end of each shaft containing a roller and having operative engagement with said lower track, and an operating mechanism operatively connecting said vertical shafts for simultaneous operation to move said door out of the door opening comprising a rotor, a mount for the rotor in said bottom edge framing member, links connecting said rotor with the respective vertical shafts to rotate said shafts upon actuation of said rotor, and an operating handle operatively connected with said rotor and accessible from a location outwardly of one face of said door, said mount, rotor and links being disposed substantially under the bottom edge of the door.

4. An actuating mechanism for a laterally movable sliding door operable in upper and lower guiding and supporting tracks comprising a pair of spaced vertical operating shafts located on the door, a horizontally extending arm secured to the upper end of each shaft and having operative engagement with said upper guiding track, a supporting roller housing rigidly mounted on the lower end of each shaft containing a roller supported on said lower track, means for simultaneously rotating said shafts comprising a rotor operatively mounted on the door, a pair 8 of links operatively connected to said rotor and the r'espe'ctive roller housings, and an operating handle operatively connected with said rotor accessible from a. location outwardly of one face of said door.

5. In a sliding door structure for operation in upper and lower guiding and supporting tracks to move laterally into and out of a door opening and slide longitudinally to a position uncovering the opening, an actuating mechanism for the door comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertical operating shafts journaled on the door, a guide arm rigidly extending radially from the upper end of each shaft andrnaking guiding engagement with said upper track, a supporting roller housing rigidly connected in offset relation to the lower end of each shaft and containing a roller supported on said lower track, a guide lug extending from said housing into engagement with said lower track and normally spaced lengthwise of the track from the axis of the shaft for camming engagement with the sides of the track upon rotation of the shaft to turn said housing and said roller about a fixed vertical axis on the track between a position in the vertical plane of the track and a position in a plane right angular thereto, thereby moving said door laterally into and out of said door opening while the roller remains supported on said lower track, and means connecting said shafts for simultaneous rotation and simultaneous operation of said roller housings.

6. In a sliding door structure for operation in upper and lower guiding and supporting tracks to move laterally into and out of a door opening and slide longitudinally to a position uncovering the opening, an actuating mechanism for the door comprising a pair of laterally spaced vertical operating shafts journaled on the door, a guide arm rigidly extending radially from the upper end of each. shaft and making guiding engagement with said upper track, a supporting roller housing rigidly connected in offset relation to the lower end of each shaft and containing a roller supported on said lower track, a pair of guide lugs extending from said housing into engagement with the opposite sides of said lower track and normally spaced apart lengthwise of the track on opposite sides of the axis of said shaft for camming engagement with the sides of the track upon rotation of the shaft to turn said housing and said roller about a fixed vertical axis on the track between a position in the vertical plane of the track and a position in a plane right angular thereto, thereby moving said door laterally into and out of said door opening while the roller remains supported on said lower track, and means connecting said shafts for simultaneous rotation and simultaneous operation of said roller housings.

7. The combination claimed in claim 5 in which each guide arm is provided with a guide lug making camming engagement with said upper track to turn said guide arm and thereby move the upper portion of said door laterally into and out of said door opening upon rotation of said shaft,

8. The combination claimed in claim 5 in which each guide arm is provided with a pair of guide lugs extending from said arm into engagement with the opposite sides of said upper track and normally spaced apart lengthwise of the track on opposite sides of the axis of said shaft for making camming engagement with the track to turn said guide arm and thereby move the upper portion of said door laterally into and out of said door opening upon rotation of said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,576,854 Peremi et a1. Nov. 27, 1951 2,605,515 Beauchamp Aug. 5, 1952 2,842,809 Shaver July 15, 1958 

